Hilary Benn Portrait

Hilary Benn

Labour - Leeds South

First elected: 10th June 1999

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

(since July 2024)

Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
4th Sep 2023 - 30th May 2024
Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
12th Jun 2023 - 20th Nov 2023
Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union
27th Jan 2020 - 16th Jan 2021
Liaison Committee (Commons)
20th May 2020 - 15th Jan 2021
Committee on Exiting the European Union
12th Jul 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union
12th Jul 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Liaison Committee (Commons)
6th Nov 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Liaison Committee Sub-committee on the effectiveness and influence of the select committee system
13th Feb 2019 - 6th Nov 2019
Committee on Exiting the European Union
19th Oct 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Liaison Committee (Commons)
19th Oct 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union
19th Oct 2016 - 3rd May 2017
Shadow Foreign Secretary
8th May 2015 - 26th Jun 2016
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
7th Oct 2011 - 8th May 2015
Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
26th Jan 2011 - 7th Dec 2011
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
8th Oct 2010 - 7th Oct 2011
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
12th May 2010 - 8th Oct 2010
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
28th Jun 2007 - 6th May 2010
Secretary of State for International Development
6th Oct 2003 - 28th Jun 2007
Minister of State (Department for International Development)
13th May 2003 - 6th Oct 2003
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office) (Minister for Prisons and Probation)
29th May 2002 - 13th May 2003
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for International Development)
11th Jun 2001 - 28th May 2002
Environment, Transport & Regional Affairs
6th Dec 1999 - 1st Jun 2001
Environment Sub-committee
6th Dec 1999 - 1st Jun 2001


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Hilary Benn has voted in 4 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Hilary Benn Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(5 debate interactions)
Adam Jogee (Labour)
(2 debate interactions)
Alex Burghart (Conservative)
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
(2 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Northern Ireland Office
(27 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Hilary Benn has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Hilary Benn's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Hilary Benn

13th June 2023
Hilary Benn signed this EDM as the primary signatory on Tuesday 13th June 2023

Fire Safety Remediation in Blocks below 11 metres

Tabled by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
That this House notes with concern that leaseholders living in blocks below the arbitrary height threshold of 11 metres are facing uncapped costs to fix cladding and other building safety defects, which may lead to repossessions and bankruptcy; believes that these leaseholders are no more to blame for the national …
34 signatures
(Most recent: 26 Oct 2023)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 17
Independent: 7
Plaid Cymru: 3
Conservative: 2
Liberal Democrat: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Green Party: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
19th April 2023
Hilary Benn signed this EDM on Monday 5th June 2023

Indefinite leave to remain for bereaved partners

Tabled by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
That this House supports the Refugee and Migrants Forum of Essex and London’s call for a fee waiver to be introduced for bereaved partners applying for indefinite leave to remain; notes that the death of a loved one brings multiple emotional, practical and financial costs; believes that people whose leave …
37 signatures
(Most recent: 7 Nov 2023)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 12
Labour: 12
Independent: 5
Liberal Democrat: 4
Plaid Cymru: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
View All Hilary Benn's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Hilary Benn, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Hilary Benn has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Hilary Benn has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by Hilary Benn


A Bill to make further provision in connection with the period for negotiations for withdrawing from the European Union.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 9th September 2019 and was enacted into law.


Hilary Benn has not asked any Written Questions in the current parliament